Czech composer Jan Hanus (1915-2004) was thoroughly grounded in the tradition of his musical forebears–Dvorák, Smetana, and Suk. Though Symphony No. 2 and the ballet Salt is Better than Gold were composed in the early 1950s, they sound of an earlier era, picking up where Suk and Novak left off. Not surprisingly, Hanus’ orchestral palette is a veritable kaleidoscope of glittering colors and ever-shifting timbres and textures. At the same time his prodigious melodic gift assures a constant supply of good tunes.
This would be expected in Salt is Better than Gold, which utilizes quite a few folk-style melodies and hard-dancing rhythms (all sumptuously orchestrated), but the Symphony also has a predominantly lyric bent. The upbeat first movement fairly explodes with melodies and motifs, so much so that at times it sounds over-decorated. The mood calms considerably for the gorgeous, song-like slow movement, but it picks up again for the scherzo, which fairly shimmers in a euphoric dance. Hanus keeps up the pace in the majestic finale, ending the work triumphantly. Karel Ancerl leads highly convincing performances with Czech Philharmonic, which provides its usual high standard of musicianship. Though mono, the recordings suggest a surprising sense of space and depth. A real find for Czech music aficionados.
